Pittsburgh Steelers Extend Troy Polamalu
By Matt Shetler
This year the offseason extended to the day before the 2011 season kicked off for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Due to the lockout Kevin Colbert and company had some catching up to do, but the Steelers front office accomplished everything they wanted to and more when they finished off a busy preseason by coming to a contract extension with safety Troy Polamalu.
Looking back, what a few weeks for Colbert and the Steelers, who not only agreed to terms with the all-pro safety, but also linebackers Lawrence Timmons and LaMarr Woodley once training camp began.
Polamalu’s deal is worth $36.5 million with $10.55 million guaranteed, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
Polamalu, the 2010 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, actually signed the contract at Pittsburgh International Airport on Saturday just before the team boarded a plane to Baltimore, then tweeted “I am happy to say that I will retire a Pittsburgh Steeler!”
He’s coming of perhaps his best season in 2010, being named NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Polamalu was ready to start the final year of a five-year deal he signed in 2007. The Steelers typically do not negotiate contracts once the season begins. They got it in just under the wire, saving both sides from a potential distraction over the next five months.
The signing of Polamalu gives a glimpse of what the Steelers defense will look like in the forseeable future and the future is bright.
A busy offseason is complete for the Steelers. The only thing they didn’t get done was an extension with wide receiver Mike Wallace, who will become a restricted free agent following the 2011 season.
The important thing is that Polamalu looks to be a Steeler for life. There are certain players that you just can’t picture wearing another uniform and he’s one of them.
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